Week 1 Recap

New Albany 38, Reynoldsburg 20

Request to buy this photoJOSHUA A. BICKEL/THISWEEKSPORTSNew Albany's Joe Siegenthaler (2) and Lucas Dove (73) congratulate Christo Semertsidis (5) after he scored a touchdown during the first half of the Eagles' football game against Reynoldsburg

At a glance

•Star: New Albany running back Christo Semertsidis, who carried 14 times for 255 yards and three touchdowns.

•Key play: Semertsidis ran untouched for an 81-yard score with 5 minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the first half to give the Eagles a 21-7 lead.

•Key stat: New Albany finished with 362 yards rushing.

Junior running back Christo Semertsidis made sure the opener was a success for the New Albany High School football team, as he ran for 255 yards and three scores on 14 carries to lead the Eagles past visiting Reynoldsburg 38-20 on Aug. 30.

“It’s tremendous,” said first-year New Albany coach Pat Samanich, who served as offensive coordinator the previous eight seasons. “But it’s really a win for all of our kids and assistant coaches. All the work in camp makes Friday night fun. We’re 1-0 and I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Semertsidis scored on an 81-yard run with five minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give the Eagles a 21-7 lead. The score came one play after Dellon Collins intercepted a pass by Reynoldsburg quarterback Jordan Aekins.

Semertsidis — who was starting in place of the injured Leslie Anokye — left the game with a leg injury after one carry in the third quarter, however, and did not return.

New Albany outgained Reynoldsburg 249-148 in the first half, and the Raiders also turned the ball over late in the second quarter on a fumbled a punt return that the Eagles recovered at the Reynoldsburg 24-yard line.

New Albany converted that turnover into a score when Semertsidis ran in from 9 yards with 55 seconds remaining in the first half for 28-7 advantage.

“You can’t overcome four turnovers, especially against a good team like New Albany,” Reynoldsburg coach Buddy White said. “We also let them off the hook three times on fourth down and that’s 21 points right there.”

Trey Quillin added 64 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries for New Albany, while Reynoldsburg was led by David Moore with 16 carries for 111 yards and one touchdown and Zack Mehan with 19 carries for 75 yards and two touchdowns.